Quick, Amanda by Desire

Author:Desire [Desire]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2010-07-24T02:18:09.379000+00:00

"Aye." Dalian's eyes shifted uneasily as though he were searching for a place to hide. "He raised me to

assist him with his studies."

"Was he a trained knight?" Gareth asked.

"Aye, a very great knight. He even went on Crusade. But he said there was no point teaching me knightly

skills." Dalian's lips trembled. "He said I was a clumsy weakling who could not be taught such things."

"You were raised in a scholar's household?"

"Aye." Dalian wiped his sweating brow on the back of his sleeve.

"Your father sent you to live in this scholar's hall?" Gareth probed.

"My father does not even know that I exist." Dalian jerked his arm back down to his side. "I don't know

his name. I am a bastard, sir."

Gareth met Dalian's fierce, anguished gaze and knew the depths of the younger man's fear as well as his

rage. "It would seem that you and I have something in common, minstrel."

Dalian clearly did not want to hear that. "At least you know your father's name. Thurston of Landry is a

great lord. I know nothing of the man who sired me except that he was a knight on his way to a tourney.

He found my mother alone in a field. He raped her and left her pregnant with me. He went on his way

and never came back for either of us."

"You are not the only product of such an unpleasant union," Gareth said. "You must find your own way in

the world. At least you will have the satisfaction of knowing that everything you achieve will be won

by your own hand. You may well discover that it is useful for a bastard to be able to handle a sword."

"I intend to make my living as a minstrel, or mayhap as a scholar," Dalian retorted. "I do not wish to

make a career of splitting skulls or fighting other men's battles."

Gareth caught Ulrich's eye. "It would seem that my lady's poor opinion of fighting men has infected the

entire household."

Ulrich's smile came and went. "Aye."

"We must see if we can change her mind."

"I'm sure you will find a way to prove yourself useful," Ulrich said. "You always do."

Gareth returned his attention to Dalian. "Was your mother the one who arranged for you to be fostered

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

in the house of this scholar you mentioned?"

Dalian shook his head. The hunted look reappeared in his eyes. "My mother loved me. She would never

have sent me away. But she died when I was eight. Soon afterward my aunt sold me to my master. I

mean, my former master."

Gareth frowned. "She sold you to him?"

"Aye." Dalian's mouth tightened. "He gave her several cold coins in exchange for me. He wanted a

healthy, intelligent lad, he said. One who could be trained to be his assistant."

"This scholar . . ." Gareth said slowly, "he was a harsh master?"

Dalian flinched as if he had been struck by a whip. "He does not—I mean, he did not tolerate any

mistakes."

"Are you here on Desire because you have run away from his household?" Gareth asked quietly.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.